Spar M. Sager, age 96 of Escanaba passed away Sunday June 7 at Northwoods Assisted Living where he had been a resident for the last several years.

Born in Grand Rapids to Martin and Mathilde (Simonson) Sager, he and his sister Zella were raised in Stephenson, Michigan where their parents owned and operated a truck farm.  Spar was class president and valedictorian of his class at Stephenson High School and went on to graduate from Michigan State University.

Spar served in the military during World War II drafting maps for the Army.  He returned to Escanaba after his discharge in 1946 and joined the U.S. Forest Service.  After his retirement in the sixties, Spar embarked on a second career owning a nursery and landscaping business in Escanaba.  Much of his landscaping work can be seen along the Lakeshore Drive on both public and private lands.  Spar was especially proud of his work with Ducks Unlimited and was an active member of Escanaba Elks Lodge 354.  For many years Spar was a fixture at the Stonehouse where he regularly dined with his special friend Marge Durkin who preceded him in death in October of 2007.

Spar is survived by a daughter Carol Klingeisen of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, nieces Judith Tallale of Daytona Beach, Florida and Mary Kringel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, nephew Michael McAuliffe of Racine, Wisconsin, many grand and great nieces and nephews and beloved friends Ellen Durkin King of Northville, Michigan and Timothy Durkin of Atlanta, Georgia and their families.

Graveside services for Spar will be Friday, June 12 at 1:00 P.M. at Gardens of Rest Cemetery in Wells with Pastor Mary Laub officiating.  Military Honors will be present by the Delta County Veterans Council.  The Sager family is being assisted by the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home in Escanaba.